Potato Review

26 POTATO REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 APPOINTMENTS Former Ops manager becomes COO AGRICO’S former Operations Manager Mark Zuidhof has taken on a new role as Chief Operating O cer (COO). He and Director Jan van Hoogen now form the Board of Directors for the breeder and supplier, whose head o ce is in Emmeloord in the Netherlands. Mark will ultimately take over as CEO in January 2024. Technical consultant appointed LANCASHIRE-based ‘smart’ fertiliser company, Levity Crop Science, has appointed Charlie Bannister as Technical Consultant. Charlie will provide technical support and consultancy for Levity’s range of foliar nutrient products, with speci c responsibilities for the UK and Northern Europe. From a general farming background and with a particular passion for arable agriculture, Charlie brings more than three decades of experience to his role in the Levity team. He previously held commercial and technical positions for companies such as Cyanamid Agriculture, Headland and Cheminova. Internationally respected formulations expert joins leading biostimulant manufacturer Wilson Boardman, an internationally-respected crop nutrition and formulations expert, has joined the Emerald Research Ltd (ERL) team as Business Development Director. Wilson has extensive knowledge of biostimulants and crop nutrients and in his new role he will look at how to make greater improvements in crop performance, sustainability and farm pro tability. Wilson is respected within both the academic and commercial biostimulant and crop nutrition arenas and often invited to speak at international congresses. His wealth of knowledge comes from 40 years of experience within the crop health care market, from a time-served eld agronomist to his last role as Global Ambassador for Plant Care technology at the Olmix Group. During his time at Micromix, a company he founded in 1999, he developed an extensive knowledge and resource base in Eastern Europe, China and Brazil, where he has spent time working closely with commercial, technical and regulatory bodies. He also has a wealth of experience in tackling international regulatory challenges that are at the forefront of enabling global food production to become sustainable. Company agronomist appointed NRM, a UK supplier of agronomic and waste analysis for land- based industries, has appointed Dr Sajjad Awan as its new company Agronomist to strengthen its technical team. He will join Alli Grundy, Agronomy Manager for NRM, in advising growers. Sajjad has spent his career working in the agricultural sector. After gaining his doctorate at the University of Warwick, where he led several important crop nutrition focused projects, he became AHDB’s crop nutrition research and knowledge transfer manager. He played a major part in the development of AHDB’s Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) document, which helps guide all crop nutrition including fertiliser, manure, and slurry recommendations in the industry. Most recently, he has been the Company Agronomist for CF Fertilisers. Advising on stewardship and SFI agreements OAKBANK Game & Conservation Ltd, which specialises in the supply of seeds, plants and advice for the creation of wildlife habitat on farmland and is part of the Velcourt Group, has appointed Henry Barringer as Stewardship & Conservation Division Manager, where he will be responsible for a team of six consultants, delivering stewardship and SFI agreements for clients across the UK. Henry joins Oakbank from Savills where he was Head of Food & Farming at the Norwich o ce. He said his key motivation when assessing farms and estates is how farming and environment can work hand in hand to create an e cient, pro table and biodiverse business. He and his team will advise on nancial and management implications of projects. New university post for Andy PROFESSOR Andy Collop has taken up the post of Vice- Chancellor, Principal and CEO at Hartpury University and Hartpury College. Professor Collop, who formerly held the position of Deputy Vice- Chancellor of De Montfort University (DMU), takes up the post following the retirement of Russell Marchant over the summer. Since 2015, he has been Deputy Vice- Chancellor at De Montfort University (DMU) having served as Interim Vice-Chancellor between 2019 and 2021.